Airbus's new tech center will fast-track the development of future wing designs

Airbus's new tech center will fast-track the development of future wing designs

Airbus Opens New Wing Technology Development Centre at Filton Site

Airbus' new Wing Technology Development Centre (WTDC) at its Filton site in the UK is set to revolutionize wing design, engineering, and manufacturing for next-generation aircraft. The WTDC, a hub for innovation, will focus on pioneering wing technologies, including advanced materials, complex composite structures, and aerodynamic optimization.

The WTDC is Airbus' center of excellence for wing technology across all commercial aircraft families. It integrates advanced wing structures, fuel systems, and landing gear, critical areas for aircraft performance and sustainability. The centre contributes to projects like Airbus’ Sustainable Wings (SusWings) and eXtra Performance Wing initiatives that develop cutting-edge wing designs featuring hinged components and optimized aerodynamics, reducing drag and improving fuel efficiency.

The WTDC will house three 17-meter full-scale wing demonstrators: static, fully-equipped, and run@rate. The static wing demonstrator tests structural capabilities and validates analyses of new designs and materials. The fully-equipped demonstrator tests installation technologies and novel approaches for equipping next-generation wings with systems. The run@rate demonstrator tests industrial capability and automation technologies to assess how wings can be built at scale and speed.

Making wings longer, leaner, and lighter is one of the biggest opportunities to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. To this end, Airbus in Filton is researching folding wingtip technology to increase lift, reduce drag, and improve fuel efficiency without altering airport infrastructure.

The new facility will use the latest technology and world-leading demonstrators to improve wing performance. The testing will take place in Airbus' Aerospace Integrated Research and Technology Centre (AIRTeC), which opened in 2021 at the Filton site and houses the £40 million AIRTeC facility.

The WTDC will be used for building and testing demonstrators for various programmes and research projects. It adds to Airbus' existing research and technology footprint in the UK, including the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Broughton and both the ZEROe Development Centre and AIRTeC at its Filton site.

The Filton site employs over 2,700 people in various roles, focusing on wing, fuel system, and landing gear development and testing. Half of the world's air passengers fly on Airbus wings designed in Filton, England and manufactured in Broughton, Wales. Since 2014, Airbus has been awarded £117 million by the Aerospace Technology Institute for Wing of Tomorrow related research.

The WTDC's location at Filton benefits from a rich aerospace heritage and access to a highly skilled workforce, enabling rapid development and deployment of these technologies. It also ties into the UK’s broader green aerospace initiatives backed by significant government funding, which further supports the centre’s role in securing the future of more sustainable aviation.

To learn more about Airbus' wings projects, visit the provided link. The use of #WingofTomorrow on social media is associated with Airbus' wings projects. The WoT programme, led by the team in the UK, allows Airbus to explore new manufacturing and assembly technologies, accelerating the design, build, and testing of wings for next-generation aircraft. The WoT programme's second wing demonstrator was recently completed and delivered to the WTDC for structural testing.

[1] Airbus' Sustainable Wings initiative

[2] Airbus' eXtra Performance Wing initiative

[3] Airbus' folding wingtip technology

[4] Airbus' Aerospace Integrated Research and Technology Centre (AIRTeC)

[5] UK Government's green aerospace initiatives

1. The Sustainable Wings initiative by Airbus, based at the Filton site, develops cutting-edge wing designs with hinged components and optimized aerodynamics to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.
2. As a part of their green aerospace projects, the UK government provides substantial funding for Airbus' research and development of new wing technologies, such as the advanced folding wingtip technology which increases lift, reduces drag, and improves fuel efficiency without altering airport infrastructure. This research takes place at Airbus' Aerospace Integrated Research and Technology Centre (AIRTeC), located at the Filton site.

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